Türkiye welcomes the Riyadh conference on southern Yemen and supports its territorial integrity
The Republic of Turkey expressed its great welcome for the call to hold a comprehensive conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, aimed at addressing the situation in southern Yemen, while appreciating the tireless efforts made by the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish the foundations of stability and peace in the region.
Turkish Foreign Ministry statement and Ankara's position
In an official statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry and carried by Anadolu Agency, Ankara affirmed that it is closely and with grave concern following the recent developments in Yemen's southern provinces. The statement emphasized Turkey's unwavering support for Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity, asserting that any infringement upon these principles not only threatens Yemen but also casts a shadow over the security and stability of neighboring countries and the entire region.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry indicated that Saudi Arabia’s support for this call reflects Riyadh’s continued commitment to unifying the Yemeni ranks and ending internal conflicts that hinder the path to a comprehensive political solution.
Historical context: The Riyadh Agreement and the Presidential Leadership Council
These developments are an extension of the diplomatic efforts led by Saudi Arabia for years to bridge the divide in Yemen. This diplomatic initiative is based on previous agreements, most notably the Riyadh Agreement signed in November 2019 between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council, which aimed to reactivate state institutions and unify military and security forces under the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior.
This Turkish support is also linked to the political transition process that Yemen witnessed in April 2022, represented by the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council headed by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, a step that received broad international and regional support as a consensus mechanism to manage the transitional phase and unify the internal front in the face of economic and security challenges.
The importance of stability in southern Yemen and its regional impact
Stability in southern Yemen is of paramount strategic importance, not only for Yemen itself but for the entire international community, given the southern governorates' location overlooking vital shipping lanes such as Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden. Regional powers, including Turkey, recognize that continued tensions in the south could hinder comprehensive peace efforts with the Houthis and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis afflicting the Yemeni people.
The current Turkish position is an indication of the convergence of views between Ankara and Riyadh on regional issues, and an affirmation of the need for political and diplomatic solutions to end conflicts in the Middle East, as the upcoming conference in Riyadh is seen as a crucial opportunity to promote consensus among the various Yemeni factions and ensure that the situation does not slide towards further escalation.
